...

Pages

Saturday, May 9, 2015

The Monuments Men (2014): George Clooney as George Stout

Directed by and starring George Clooney, based on the book by Robert M. Edsel, The Monuments Men (2014) tells the true story of a group of aging museum officials, conservators and art aficionados charged with rescuing art masterpieces from the Nazis during World War II… with Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece being the main focus of the rescue operation. The real names of the participants were changed so that some liberties could be taken without causing offense. In real life, the group was led by George Stout, a conservator at Harvard University's Fogg Museum, who later went on to become director of the Worcester Art Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Depicting the valiant planning and efforts undertaken in rescuing Europe's great masterpieces from the greedy hands of the Nazis, the film showcases the noble acts of the brave men that risked all to preserve history for future generations. The reproduction art used as props in the film are good by Hollywood standards, and the muted cinematography adds to the 1940's atmosphere. George Clooney does a good job capturing the look and demeanor of George Stout. The cast is thoroughly wonderful, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin and Bob Balaban.

George Clooney as George Stout: The Monuments Men

Nazi looting: The Monuments Men

The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck: The Monuments Men

Nazi looting: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Bob Balaban and George Clooney: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

John Goodman: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Nazi looted art: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray and Bob Balaban: The Monuments Men

John Goodman and George Clooney: The Monuments Men

Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men

George Clooney: The Monuments Men

George Clooney: The Monuments Men

Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men

: The Monuments Men

Bob Balaban and Bill Murray: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

George Clooney: The Monuments Men

George Clooney: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray and George Clooney: The Monuments Men

John Goodman: The Monuments Men

John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men

The Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo: The Monuments Men

Nazi destruction of Art: The Monuments Men

Bill Murray and Bob Balaban: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and George Stout: The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men

: The Monuments Men

George Clooney and reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper : The Monuments Men